Mounting device for drawer system

ABSTRACT

A mounting device for a drawer system includes a rail member and a bracket. The rail member includes upper and lower walls and a sidewall with a hanging member. The bracket includes first and second arms and a body extending and connected between the first and second arms. A portion of the first arm is configured to press against the upper wall of the rail member, and a portion of the second arm is configured to press against the lower wall of the rail member. The body has a positioning hole corresponding in position to the hanging member of the rail member so that the bracket can be mounted to the rail member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting device and more particularly to a mounting device for use in a drawer system, wherein the mounting device allows a rail member to be rapidly mounted to a drawer housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,412, granted to Lammens, essentially discloses a bracket with a mounting tab (31) to be inserted into an aperture (45) of a slide member (61). An end portion of the slide member is mounted to a cabinet via the bracket.

However, if the manufacturing tolerances between the mounting tab (31) and the aperture (45) are too great, the bracket will have problem being securely mounted to the slide member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting device for use in a drawer system so that a rail member can be rapidly mounted to a drawer housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for use in a drawer system so that a rail member can be securely mounted to a drawer housing.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a mounting device for a drawer system includes a rail member and a bracket. The rail member includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a sidewall extending and connected between the upper wall and the lower wall. The upper wall, the lower wall, and the sidewall jointly define a channel, and the sidewall has a hanging member located outside the channel. The bracket includes a first arm, a second arm, and a body extending and connected between the first arm and the second arm. The first arm has a bent section and a supporting section extending from and connected to the bent section, wherein the supporting section corresponds in position to the upper wall of the rail member. The second arm has a bent section, a first supporting section, and a second supporting section extending substantially perpendicularly from the first supporting section, wherein the second supporting section corresponds in position to the lower wall of the rail member. The body has a positioning hole, a first wall defined by an upper hole wall of the positioning hole, and a second wall defined by a lower hole wall of the positioning hole. The hanging member of the rail member extends through the positioning hole of the bracket and hangs on the second wall of the bracket such that the supporting section of the first arm of the bracket is pressed against the upper wall of the rail member, the second supporting section of the second arm of the bracket is pressed against the lower wall of the rail member, and the body of the bracket is pressed against the sidewall of the rail member.

Preferably, the rail member has an engaging protuberance located close to the hanging member, and the engaging protuberance contacts against the first wall in the positioning hole of the bracket.

Preferably, each of the first arm and the second arm of the bracket has a hole.

Preferably, the hanging member has a connecting portion and a fastening portion connected to the connecting portion, the connecting portion extends substantially from the sidewall of the rail member, and the fastening portion is elastically pushed away from the sidewall of the rail member by the body of the bracket and is thus fastened to the body of the bracket, pressing the body of the bracket against the sidewall of the rail member.

Preferably, the body of the bracket further has a third wall defined by a lateral hole wall of the positioning hole and a fourth wall opposing the third wall, and the hanging member abuts against at least one of the third wall and the fourth wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a drawer system includes a drawer housing, a drawer, and a pair of slide rail assemblies. The slide rail assemblies are mounted between the drawer housing and the drawer so that the drawer can be easily pulled out from or pushed into the drawer housing via the slide rail assemblies. Each of the slide rail assemblies includes a bracket mounted at a first position on the drawer housing; a fixing base mounted at a second position on the drawer housing; a supporting base mounted at a third position on the drawer housing, the supporting base being connected to the fixing base; and a rail member mounted between the bracket and the supporting base, the rail member having a hanging member; wherein the bracket includes a first arm, a second arm, and a body extending and connected between the first aim and the second arm, the body having a positioning hole in which the hanging member of the rail member hangs.

Preferably, in each of the slide rail assemblies, the fixing base has at least one protruding member, and the supporting base has a hole at one end. The hole has at least one hole wall engaged with the protruding member.

Preferably, in each of the slide rail assemblies, the supporting base has a fixing plate and a supporting plate extending substantially perpendicularly from the fixing plate, the fixing plate has at least one lateral hole, and the rail member has a hook extending through the lateral hole of the fixing plate and pressing against the fixing plate.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a mounting device for a drawer system includes a rail member and a bracket. The rail member has a hanging member. The bracket includes a first arm, a second arm, and a body. The first arm has a bent section and a supporting section extending from and connected to the bent section, wherein the supporting section has a hole. The second arm corresponds in position to the first arm and has a bent section, a first supporting section, a second supporting section, and a third supporting section, wherein the first supporting section has a hole, the second supporting section extends substantially perpendicularly from the first supporting section, and the third supporting section extends substantially perpendicularly from the second arm and is located close to the second supporting section. The body extends and is connected between the first arm and the second arm. The body has a positioning hole in which the hanging member of the rail member hangs.

Preferably, the rail member has an engaging protuberance located close to the hanging member, and the engaging protuberance contacts against a first wall in the positioning hole of the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and the advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drawer system in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the slide rail assembly in an embodiment of the present invention, showing how the slide rail assembly is mounted to a drawer housing;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rail member and the bracket in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the slide rail assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how the fixing base and the supporting base in an embodiment of the present invention are assembled together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a drawer system 10 which includes a drawer housing 12, a drawer 14, and a pair of slide rail assemblies 16. The slide rail assemblies 16 are mounted between the drawer housing 12 and the drawer 14 so that the drawer 14 can be easily pulled out from or pushed back into the drawer housing 12 by means of the slide rail assemblies 16. In one preferred embodiment, the drawer system 10 further includes a pair of garbage containers 18 mounted in the drawer 14 and may therefore serve as a piece of furniture for storing garbage.

FIG. 2 shows the slide rail assembly 16 in an embodiment of the present invention. The slide rail assembly 16 includes a bracket 20, a fixing base 22, a supporting base 24, and a rail member 26. The bracket 20 is mounted at a first position on the drawer housing 12. The fixing base 22 is mounted at a second position on the drawer housing 12. The supporting base 24 is mounted at a third position on the drawer housing 12 and is configured for supporting the rail member 26. The supporting base 24 is also connected to the fixing base 22. The rail member 26 is mounted between the bracket 20 and the supporting base 24. Preferably, the first position is adjacent to an opening of the drawer housing 12, the second position is on a back panel of the drawer housing 12, and the third position lies between the first position and the second position.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the rail member 26 includes an upper wall 28 a, a lower wall 28 b, and a sidewall 30 extending and connected between the upper wall 28 a and the lower wall 28 b. The upper wall 28 a, the lower wall 28 b, and the sidewall 30 jointly define a channel 32. The sidewall 30 has a hanging member 34 and an engaging protuberance 36 located close to the hanging member 34. The hanging member 34 is located outside the channel 32. The engaging protuberance 36 has an engaging surface 38 adjacent to the upper wall 28 a. More specifically, the hanging member 34 has a connecting portion 341 and a fastening portion 342 connected to the connecting portion 341. The connecting portion 341 substantially extends from the sidewall 30 of the rail member 26. The fastening portion 342 is spaced apart from the inner side of the sidewall 30 of the rail member 26 by a predetermined first distance d1.

The bracket 20 includes a first arm 40, a second arm 42, and a body 44 extending and connected between the first arm 40 and the second arm 42. The first arm 40 has a bent section 46 and a supporting section 48 extending from and connected to the bent section 46. The supporting section 48 corresponds in position to the upper wall 28 a of the rail member 26 and is configured for supporting the upper wall 28 a of the rail member 26. The supporting section 48 has a hole 50. The second arm 42 corresponds in position to the first arm 40. The second arm 42 has a bent section 52, a first supporting section 54 a, a second supporting section 54 b extending substantially perpendicularly from the first supporting section 54 a, and a third supporting section 54 c. The first supporting section 54 a has a hole 56. The second supporting section 54 b corresponds in position to the lower wall 28 b of the rail member 26 and is configured for supporting the lower wall 28 b of the rail member 26. The third supporting section 54 c extends substantially perpendicularly from the second arm 42. The third supporting section 54 c is located close to the second supporting section 54 b and also serves to support the lower wall 28 b of the rail member 26. The body 44 has a positioning hole 58, a first wall 60 a defined by an upper hole wall of the positioning hole 58, a second wall 60 b defined by a lower hole wall of the positioning hole 58, a third wall 60 c defined by a lateral hole wall of the positioning hole 58, and a fourth wall 60 d opposing the third wall 60 c. The body 44 has a thickness t.

To assemble, the hanging member 34 of the rail member 26 is passed through the positioning hole 58 of the bracket 20 and hangs on the second wall 60 b of the bracket 20. As a result, the supporting section 48 of the first arm 40 of the bracket 20 is pressed against the upper wall 28 a of the rail member 26, the second supporting section 54 b of the second arm 42 of the bracket 20 is pressed against the lower wall 28 b of the rail member 26, and the body 44 of the bracket 20 is pressed against the sidewall 30 of the rail member 26, with the engaging surface 38 of the engaging protuberance 36 of the rail member 26 contacting against the first wall 60 a of the bracket 20. Thus, the bracket 20 is securely mounted to the rail member 26 in such a way that the hanging member 34 of the rail member 26 abuts against at least one of the third wall 60 c and the fourth wall 60 d. Referring also to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the hanging member 34 is elastically pushed away from the sidewall 30 of the rail member 26 due to the thickness t of the bracket 20. More specifically, the distance between the fastening portion 342 of the hanging member 34 and the inner side of the sidewall 30 of the rail member 26 is increased from the first distance d1 to a second distance d2. The bracket 20 is held in place by the elastic restoring force of the fastening portion 342 of the hanging member 34, and the sidewall 30 of the rail member 26 is thus further pressed against the body 44 of the bracket 20. Consequently, the bracket 20 is mounted even more securely on the rail member 26.

In addition, the supporting base 24 has a fixing plate 62 and a supporting plate 64 extending substantially perpendicularly from the fixing plate 62. The fixing plate 62 has at least one lateral hole 66. Preferably, the fixing plate 62 has a plurality of lateral holes 66, and the rail member 26 has a hook 68. At least a portion of the hook 68 is configured to extend through one of the lateral holes 66 of the fixing plate 62 and press against the fixing plate 62.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fixing base 22 has at least one protruding member 70, and the supporting base 24 has a hole 72 at one end. At least one hole wall of the hole 72 is configured to engage with the protruding member 70.

While the present invention has been disclosed via the foregoing preferred embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to restrict the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 

1. A mounting device for a drawer system, comprising: a rail member comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and a sidewall extending and connected between the upper wall and the lower wall, wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, and the sidewall jointly define a channel, and the sidewall has a hanging member located outside the channel; and a bracket comprising a first arm, a second arm, and a body extending and connected between the first arm and the second arm, wherein the first arm has a bent section and a supporting section extending from and connected to the bent section, the supporting section corresponding in position to the upper wall of the rail member; the second arm has a bent section, a first supporting section, and a second supporting section extending substantially perpendicularly from the first supporting section, the second supporting section corresponding in position to the lower wall of the rail member; and the body has a positioning hole, a first wall defined by an upper hole wall of the positioning hole, and a second wall defined by a lower hole wall of the positioning hole; wherein the hanging member of the rail member extends through the positioning hole of the bracket and hangs on the second wall of the bracket such that the supporting section of the first arm of the bracket is pressed against the upper wall of the rail member, the second supporting section of the second arm of the bracket is pressed against the lower wall of the rail member, and the body of the bracket is pressed against the sidewall of the rail member.
 2. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the rail member has an engaging protuberance located close to the hanging member, and the engaging protuberance contacts against the first wall in the positioning hole of the bracket.
 3. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein each of the first arm and the second arm of the bracket has a hole.
 4. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the hanging member has a connecting portion and a fastening portion connected to the connecting portion, the connecting portion extends substantially from the sidewall of the rail member, and the fastening portion is elastically pushed away from the sidewall of the rail member by the body of the bracket and is thus fastened to the body of the bracket, pressing the body of the bracket against the sidewall of the rail member.
 5. The mounting device of claim 1, wherein the body of the bracket further has a third wall defined by a lateral hole wall of the positioning hole and a fourth wall opposing the third wall, and the hanging member abuts against at least one of the third wall and the fourth wall.
 6. A drawer system comprising: a drawer housing; a drawer; and a pair of slide rail assemblies mounted between the drawer housing and the drawer so that the drawer can be easily pulled out from or pushed into the drawer housing via the slide rail assemblies, each of the slide rail assemblies comprising: a bracket mounted at a first position on the drawer housing; a fixing base mounted at a second position on the drawer housing; a supporting base mounted at a third position on the drawer housing, the supporting base being connected to the fixing base; and a rail member mounted between the bracket and the supporting base, the rail member having a hanging member; wherein the bracket comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a body extending and connected between the first arm and the second arm, the body having a positioning hole in which the hanging member of the rail member hangs.
 7. The drawer system of claim 6, wherein in each of the slide rail assemblies, the fixing base has at least one protruding member, and the supporting base has an end provided with a hole, the hole having at least one hole wall engaged with the protruding member.
 8. The drawer system of claim 6, wherein in each of the slide rail assemblies, the supporting base has a fixing plate and a supporting plate extending substantially perpendicularly from the fixing plate, the fixing plate has at least one lateral hole, and the rail member has a hook extending through the lateral hole of the fixing plate and pressing against the fixing plate.
 9. A mounting device for a drawer system, comprising a rail member and a bracket, the rail member having a hanging member, the bracket comprising: a first arm having a bent section and a supporting section extending from and connected to the bent section, the supporting section having a hole; a second arm corresponding in position to the first arm, the second arm having a bent section, a first supporting section, a second supporting section, and a third supporting section, wherein the first supporting section has a hole, the second supporting section extends substantially perpendicularly from the first supporting section, and the third supporting section extends substantially perpendicularly from the second arm and is located close to the second supporting section; and a body extending and connected between the first arm and the second arm, the body having a positioning hole in which the hanging member of the rail member hangs.
 10. The mounting device of claim 9, wherein the rail member has an engaging protuberance located close to the hanging member, and the engaging protuberance contacts against a first wall in the positioning hole of the bracket. 